XN000022-1991-10-29 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1991

GOVERNOR WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON RETURN OF

VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

THE

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (TUESDAY) WELCOMED AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM ON THE RETURN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG.

SIR DAVID SAID: "THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS INDEED. HONG KONG HAS WORKED HARD FOR MANY YEARS TO FIND A HUMANE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

"THE FUTURE OF THOSE SCREENED OUT MUST LIE IN VIETNAM. NO SOLUTION TO KEEP IN CAMPS FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR THOUSANDS OF MANY OF THEM YOUNG CHILDREN.

IT IS PEOPLE,

"WE NOW HAVE ARRANGEMENTS AND GUARANTEES WHICH ENABLE US TO RETURN NON-REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES WITHOUT FEAR OF PERSECUTION.

"IT IS ONLY BY RETURNING TO VIETNAM THOSE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY OUR FULL PART UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION AND LOOK AFTER THOSE WHO ARE GENUINE REFUGEES."

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GOVERNOR THANKS OUTGOING EXCO MEMBERS

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (TUESDAY) THANKED THREE OUTGOING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERES FOR THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY HAD DONE ON THE COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID: "THIS HAS BEEN THE LAST MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AS IT IS AT PRESENT COMPOSED."

"I'VE BEEN SAYING "THANK YOU" TO THREE OF OUR MEMBERS; MARIA TAM, DANIEL TSE AND CHENG HON-KWAN. AND THANKING THEM FOR THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY'VE DONE ON THE COUNCIL, FROM EIGHT YEARS; FIVE YEARS; THREE YEARS, TT HE SAID.

"ALL OF THEM HAVE SERVED THROUGH A PERIOD WHEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUES HAVE BEEN TACKLED, AND I'VE TELLING THEM HOW MUCH I VALUE THEIR ADVICE AND HOW MUCH I WILL GO ON SERVING HONG KONG," SIR DAVID SAID.

A LOT OF

JUST BEEN HOPE THEY

MIGRANTS

WE

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH THE VIETNAMESE ISSUE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "ON THINGS TO DO WITH VIETNAMESE I HOPE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING ON THAT VERY SOON. I CAN'T CARRY IT FURTHER FORWARD AT THE MOMENT, BUT I HOPE VERY SOON WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ON IT.'

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